Motor vehicle



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C. Q. BALL.

MOTOR VEHICLE c. 0. BALL MOTOR VEHICLE FiledApril 21, 1924 3 Shets-Sheet 2 gag, 30, 1924.,

. C. Q. BALL MOTOR VEHICLE Fil d April 21, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet '5 Patent -d Even. 3d, ldfid.

CHARLES 3. BALL, 0E CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO YELLO'W (MACH EIAHUFAG- TJEHlG COIEPAINY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A COBPGRATIQN 0F I'Llhfitfilfi MOTOR VEHICLE.

application filed April 21, 1924. serial lite. 707,3"1'5.

To all "whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES 0. BALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ghicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Motor Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has to do with improvements in motor vehicles. It has to do particularly with improvements in the construction of the 'bodies of such motor vehicles as coaches, etc.

The invention has reference particularly to the construction of the roof portion of the vehicle. In this connection, it is noted that it is very desirable to be able to reduce the elevation of the roof of the vehicle as much as possible particularly in those cases where seats are provided on the upper deck. In any case it is very desirable to be able to provide a roof constructionfor the interior of the vehicle which shall be free and clear of obstructions reaching down into the body of thevehicle. In other words, it is very desirable to provide a construction in which the roof shall present a practically clear and smooth surface to the interior, particularly above the center aisle.

In connection with the above it has generally been found necessary to provide some form of reinforcing members extending across the vehicle to reinforce the roof thereof, the same being termed cal-lines.

- The main object of the present invention is to provide an improved roof construction of sucha nature that these carlines may be eliminated either in Whole or in part. and all obstruction removed from the lower surface of the roof, particularly above the center aisle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction such that if desired the obstructions may be removed not only above the center aisle, but also above a large portion of the seats so as to offer practically no obstruction to the passengers in entering and leaving the vehicle. I

It is a further object to accomplish the above mentioned results in a structure possessing great strength and rigidity and amply able to carry the weight on the upper deck when fully loaded.

A. further object of the invention is to provide a roof structure possessing the above mentioned advantages without increasing its thickness beyond what is found to be necessary as determined. by other cc siderations.

A further object of the invention to provide a structure in which the above strength and stiffness may be secured even when" the stanchions are eliminated from the interior of the vehicle.

Other objects and uses of the invention will appear from a detailed description of the same, which consists in the features at construction and combinations of part hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a transverse section through a typical motor vehicle having a roof structure embodying the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view ofthe roof structure itself, the same being of the form shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a fragmentary longitudinal section through the roof of Figs. 1 and 2.

on enlarged scale and may. be considered as an enlarged section on line 33 of Fig. '1, looking in the direction of the arrows:

Fig. 4 shows a fragmentary cross section of a modified form of construction as compared to Figs. 1, 2 and 3;

Fig. 5 shows another modified form of construction similar to that of Fig. 4, with the exception that it illustrates how stanchions can be used along the center aisle, if:

desired;

Fig. 6 shows still another modification similar to that of Fig. 5, with the exception that the stanchions when used have. a

longitudinally extending beam associated with their upper ends; and

Fig. 7 shows another modified form of construction in which the stanchions when used may have associated with them short transverse brackets reachin outwardly towards the longitudinal mem ers at the sides of the vehicle, said brackets serving to support other longitudinal members. I

In the construction of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the side walls may be provided with longi tudinally extending beams 8 and 9;. along their upper edges; and may also be provided with the vertical posts 10 and 11 between the windows.

The roof 12, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 in particular, is entirely free and clear of any downwardly depending portions throughout its entire width measured between the beams 15', and 14.- which are relatively close to the beams S and 9 and are located we over the positions of the side seats 15 and 16. The aisle 1'? between the side seats is in the center of the vehicle; and the beams 13 and l t when used are placed well. to the sides of the said aisle so that persons moving back and forth along the aisle and entering and leavin the seats are in nowise discommoded by t e presence of the beams 13 and 14.

The beams 13 and 14 when used are preferably reinforced and supported by brackets 18 and 19 which reach upwards from the side posts 10 and 11 at an angle of substantially 45, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The roof 12 is preferably arched some What, as illustrated in the figures, and reaches clear over the entire width of the vehicle "netween the side beams Sand 9 and above the beams 13 and 14. The lower surface of this roof is placed at the lowest clearance which can be conveniently used and owing to the fact-that the bottom surface of the roof is entirelyfree and clear of obstructions, this elevation can be considerably reduced Without inconvenience to the passengers. v 1

The root itself is preferably made of three ply veneer board or haslzelite. as shown for cxamplein Figs. 3, t, 5, 6 and 7. When this material is used top and bottom layers and 2?; respectively have their gram runmug in one oirectiomnnd the intermediate layer 2?? has its grain running at right anglestheretc. It urthermore the top and bottom layers are preferably thinner than the middle layer, so that the strength is practically uniform in all directions.

The outer edges of this roof section are tirmh reinforced and rigidly held in gilace by the top beams 23 and 24- which extend along the upper edge of the vehicle above the position of the beams 8 and 9-. This supportof the outer edges of the roof section together with the support afforded bythe beams 13 and 14 establishes practically a compound cantilever for the central portion of the roof and thus affords great rigidity for the same.

Usually a number of longitudinally etc tendingplanks 25 are placed along the cen tral portion of the upper deck so as to strengthen the floor of the center aisle 2% of the upper deck between the rows of seats 27 and 28 thereof. These planks 25 when used will further reinforce and stitlen the structure.

.l'n somecases it will be desirable to use transverse beams 29 and 31') across the too of the roof, said beams when used being: l. bly made of sheet metal of channel tion as illustrated in Fig. 3. The and 32 of the channel sections are manor-2a preferably flanged, as shown at 33 and ill. the flanges being in turn connected to a cross plate 35 so as to establish a closed structure. This cross plate lies flat against the too surface of the roof member itself and to distribute the stiffening action; and preferably also they are so placed as to bringtheir ends above selected ones ot the side posts 10 and 11.

When these cross beams are used the center planks 25 will be stopped short? at the sides of thecross beams as illustrated in F2 2, the cross planks being somewhat thinner than the depth of the cross beams. It will frequently be desirable to place diagonally extending ribs" 36 on the roof so as to give a better footing to the passengers. When these ribs are used tl'iey Will also preferably stop short of the cross beams so as not to raise the elevation at the positions of the cross seams.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 5, there are provided stenchions 37 at the sides of the center aisle 17, and these stanchions directly support and reinforce the root at points Where they are located.

In the modified construction of Fig. 6. the stanchions 37 carry relatively thin longitudinally extending beams 38 which in turn support the roof. the beams serving to distribute the load to the stanchions.

the modified construction of Fig. 7 the stanchions 37 are again provided. in this case however. a bracket 39 reaches between the upper end of each stanchion and the corresponding side bracket 18 and serves to sup-- port the root at a point immediately above. These brackets 39 when used may be cen trally depressed. as shown at 40, and :1 long-itudinally extending beam 41 may be supported within the depressed portions 40.

It may sometimes be desirable to use a stanchion or stanchions for providing additional support to the central portion of the roof. I have, therefore. illustrated in Fig. l a stanchion 42 at one side of the aisle 1'! and close to the position of one of the seats 16. This stanchion reaches upwards from the door to the roof 12 and gives direct support to the central portion of the root.

it is also noted that the "frame of the we hicle includes inwardly reaching brackets 4-3 which are secured to'the side channel frame members When stanchions such as 42 are used, the brackets 43 are preferablyplaced at-such positions with respect to the st'anchions that the loads of the stanchions are directly carried by said brackets.

lllli lllt) vehicl between the first mentioned beams said roof member comprising a membvr of substantially uniformly arching form having its edge portions resting: upon and-supported by the bracketbeams and its side edges in engagement with the first mentioned beams, and means for supporting the contra portions of the roof member the undorsurfave of the roof member being mm finuonsly free and Clear of downwardly dopomling projections throughout substantially the 'fuli length of the central portion of the roof.

CHARLES 0. BALL. 

